Surgical splint



' L. H. CRAWFORD AND I. H. PRANTE.

SURGICAL SPLI NT. APPLICATION FILED APR.26, I919.

'fatelnted Dec. 14, 1920..

megs.

UNITE s'rA'rs LY'rnn H. cnewronn AND some E. 'rnan'rn, or perms, 'rExAs.

SURGICAL SPLINT.

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Pdtented D 14, 1920.

Application filed April 26, 1919. Serial No. 292,966.

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LYTER- H. CRAWFORD and JOHN H."PRANTE, citizens of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surgical Splints, of which the following isa specification. v 1

' This invention relates to new and useful improvements in surgical splints.

The purpose of the invention is to provide means for holding certain members of the human body in desired positions while undergoing medical treatment, as well as to assist such members in the performance of natural functions. 7 In carrying out the invention a splint of Semi-rigid flexible material is provided and involves the features of simplicity, easy manipulation and rapid adjustment. The term semi-rigid as'used herein is intended to cover astructure with sufiicient rigidity to sustain its shape or form; while material may include soft rubber'or any other suitable material.

The invention will be more readily under- I stood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Figure '1 is a perspective view of the splint,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, and

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the same. In the drawings the numeral 1 designates an elongated body member somewhat U- shaped 1n cross-section. The bottomv2 of the member is thickened along its longitudinalcenter and is transversely merged into. side walls 3," being at the same time gradually reduced in thickness toward each wall,

The tlnckened bottom'lends rigidity to the member so that it not only sustains its sha e but supports any member of the human body which is placed therein.

At the rear end of the body a loop 4. is provided and 'arched from one side wall to the ther. The body member is tapered from the rear to the front and abruptly reduced at 5 at the front end by a well rounded curving of the structure. The extreme front end 7 of the member is cut at a recedin angle and a contracted aperture is provlded. A loop 6 spans the front end. The loops are preferably very thin but must act to support the splint on the member bein treated.

e have found soft rubber to he very satisfactory as a material because while it is self sustaining it is also flexible and pliable,

readily lending itself to various distortions and adjustments without pain or discomfort,

but other materials may be used. The splint 1s sanitarybeing readily cleansed.

. walls, said tubular member being provided in its upper portion with a longitudinal opening extending through the same for the greater portion of its length and spaced from the forward and rear endsthereof for providing end encirclin bands.

In testimony whereo we alfix our signatures.

LYTER H. CRAWFORD. JOHN H. PRANTE. 

